First post after browsing this forum for many months

I have recently fitted a set of the tein flex coilovers to my 8 and have been looking at the RB bars to give the car a bit more stability, but after using the search function i found a couple of posts suggesting that the RB bars give too much rigidity for general road driving?

And with the condition of some of the roads here in the UK could this pose a problem?

I have a few track days planned for this year so im hoping the sways will help but as i also use the car for normal roads i dont want to purchase them and find out they are no good.

Does anyone have a similar setup who can comment on this?
Also ive noticed mazdaspeed and whiteline also do a sway kit what benefits/disadvantages would these have to the RB bars?

Cheers in advance

 

Hi Drago,

Welcome to the RX-8 world.

I have fitted the Tein Flex with EDFC. I have MazdaSpeed sways bar fitted for a long time and also the 4 point MazdaSpeed strut bar front and 2 point strut bar rear.

I did it in reverse but it goes from the minor roll created by the MS stabilizer to nearly zero roll with the Tein Flex.

The coilover has settled down and I can appreciate the damper a lot more. the EDFC is very handy to have.

I have driven cars with whiteline and they are very good, although they had fitting issues before - now have ironed out.

Not sure of Racing Beat though

One advice - MazdaSpeed always fits. The other have a very very slight chance that it doesn't.

 

takahashi, can you comment on the 'streetability' of the tein's? i have wanted to get the flexes w/ edfc for quite some time, but ive always been held back by the fact that they could be too harsh for the street. the harsh ride isnt such a problem for me, but carting family members/friends around could be an issue...

 

Of course,

I like the fact that you use the " before and after the word "streetability"

What is streetability?

Now let us see.... the Tein Flex is marketed in Japan as a winding road to possible track and has been used in endurance races in the circuits (such as 24hr Nurburgring).

Now Japan roads - I dunno if you have been in Japan is without bumps and potholes and their highways are mainly hanging bridges or raised from the ground overpasses. They are silky smooth. I have been in the "country" mountain passes in Japan and their condition is better than my driveway.

Now having said that I have to comment on the Australian road. Mostly are good but most highway are laid in the 60s... so after 40 years there are some uneven areas.
Tein Flex perform well in this circumstance and if you put into the softest damper setting - it has enough travel to make yourself comfortable enough.
Although I have to say it is still much harsher than the stock suspension.

So many people in HK opted for softer spring on Flex or SuperStreet all together.

For some other people who thinks Tein Flex is soft: It is not soft and if you use racing damper in street use - unless you are in Japan - you are going to hop and even the softest bump and highest rebound setting may not help and you go off the road.

mY $0.02

 

thanks takahashi, that was exactly what i was looking for. by 'streetability' i guess i meant general day-to-day, in-the-city road manners. anyway, the streets around here are a little rougher it sounds like, as there are a few too many raised/sunken manholes & other pot holes...however, i know where virtually all of them are so it isnt such a huge problem as it could be. i guess im almost fortunate i dont have the 'funding' to spend that kind of money, because i really cant decide. ill probably just hold off & be conservative for the time being, but maybe later.....

by the way, i went to nagano in 1998 to see the olympics, which was just awesome. i was only 8 at the time, so the different culture was really overwhelming & interesting. i loved it.

thanks again for the help.

 

I have RB bars and MS Springs/Shocks... its definetely not too rigid for daily driving.
Alot of people complain the moment their cars get slightly stiffer than stock. My opinion has always been that this is a sports car, and should feel like one. If i wanted a minivan i would have bought a dodge.

-hS

 

i agree, its just that as a daily driver that travels over some not-so-smooth roads, a compromise has to be made, or one will encounter problems. if i spent a considerable amount of time at the track, id have these in a heartbeat. if i end up buying them, i probably will find myself out at the track more often.... also, thanks for the comment on the MS set up.

 

I think we have to mix the friends we have HS....

My side of the world complaining that Tein Flex is not firm enough!

I am going to put out a video of experience that I have. It should be cool. That includes the set up, alignment, drift day and track days; hopefully will be able to attract some comments from the leading racing driver in Melbourne!

Watch the Australian forum! I would say. *hint: my track day is 9th March and pls allow some editing time.

 

im very much looking forward to it. ill be waiting!